Port of Milwaukee posts decline in tonnage

Coal tonnage at the Great Lakes port fell more than 80 percent in 2015, compared to the prior year, which resulted from the Valley Power plant’s switch from coal to natural gas.    The Port of Milwaukee said it handled nearly 2.3 million tons of cargo in 2015, down by 300,000 tons from the previous year.
   Coal tonnage dropped by more than 80 percent year-over-year in 2015, which resulted from the Valley Power plant’s switch from coal to burning natural gas. The power plant is located in Milwaukee and is owned by WE Energies.
   However, grain and cement throughput increased in 2015 compared to the prior year, while salt remained the top commodity handled.
   Steel volumes fell from 2014, but still ranked as one of the highest totals in the past decade.
   The Port of Milwaukee is located in western Lake Michigan and has terminals that can handle container, roll-on/roll-off, dry and liquid bulk, heavy lift, general and project cargoes.